Closure structure for metallic containers



April 9,1935. -J. SHERA 4 1,997,202,

CLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 10, 195? J 1]? (era.

"Patented Apr. 9, 1935 'PA- EE-NT OFFICE CLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR METALLIC comm ts John W. Shcra, Chicago, 111., minor to American Flange & Manufacturin cago, 111., a corporation of Application February 10, 1932, Serial No. 591,941

r 7 Claims.

My invention relates generally to metallic containers, such as suited particularly (but not exclusively) for the transportation and storage of oil, gasoline, and

closure structure for the filling and/or discharge openings thereof and for applying identification markings thereto.

The principal object of my invention is to provide novel means adapted to be fixedly interlocked with the closure structure and to which an identification tag (or similar means) may be attached, and which is also adapted to serve as tampering with the closure.

More specific objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

' Figure l is a top closure structure emb Fig. 2 is an structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to that of Fig. 2 showing another application of my invention; and

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the tag and seal ring shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In certain instances it'is customary to apply tags or similar identification mediums to the containers and the container opening closure structure lends itself well to this purpose. It is plan view of one form of odying my invention; enlarged sectional view of the interlockingly engaged with the closure structure and the foregoing purposes.

and held in place by which serves both of This double-purpose barrels, drums, and the like,-

' flange 11 is of has a threaded body g Company, Ohi- Illinois RE|SSUED opening is pressed outwardly forming a pocket l2 of non-circular shape in outline and in which is received the lateral and similarly-shaped flange I 3 of an internally threaded bushing member I4. The edge of the bushing I4 outwardly beyond its threads is gradually reduced in thickness and it is turned over and upon the outer edge of the flange ll securing the bushing firmly within the flange and providing at the outer edge of the flange II a bead l5. Leakage 10 past the joint between the bushing I4 and the container wall 10 is positively prevented by a gasket or suitable sealing compound indicated at It.

For seal andtag-a ttachment purposes I employ a ring I! which takes, preferably, the shape shown in Fig. 4. Thisring is formed, preferably, of thin and readily deformable sheet metal and is provided with an upstanding cylindrical rim I! and a horizontal bottom flange Il The cylindrical portion l-l of this ring is of a diameter permitting the same to be fitted rather snugly down over the wall flange H, and its bottom suflicient width to seat upon the boss l8 around the container at the base of the container flange II. In the assembly of the structure, the ring 11 is first mounted over the flange II so that, when the outer edge of the bushing I4 is then turned 'over and upon the outer edge of the flange I I, it is likewise turned over and upon the upper edge of the ring part l1, thereby rigidly fixing the ring I! upon the flange H against rotation and against displacement from the flange by movement in any direction.

The bottom flange 1 1 of the ring 11 is provided with at least two outwardly projected ears pocket forming I 9 which are, preferably diametricallyopposed.

Each of these ears is provided with an opening 20 through which a wire or cord attached to a tag may readily be passed for securement. In this manner a durable and inconspicuous, but highly eflicient, tag-attachment means is provided. 1

In the use of this ring I '1 for seal purposes, the container opening may be closed by a plug such as indicated at 2| (Figs. 1 and 2) which plug 2| engageable with the threads of the bushing l4 and a laterally extending and enlarged head 2 I b which projects out over and above the bead l5. 'In applying the plug 2| for closure purposes, a gasket 22 is interposed between the head 21 and the bead l5 for efiecting a sealed jo t at that point. The upper surface of the plu fhead is provided with a pair of opposed V-shaped recesses 23 which are located in the close proximity to the periphery of the plug head, and the plug head is provided with peripheral openings 24 which lead into the pockets 23. The plug may be screwed into the bushing sufliciently to efiect the proper closure-seal and to approximately align the pockets 23 with the openings in the ring H. To prevent undetectable removal and tampering with the plug 2|, a sealing wire 25 is passed through one of the ring openings 20 and the adjacent of the plug openings 24 and a seal device 26 is applied across the free ends of the wire and the adjacent body portion thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 2. In applying the seal device, the wire may be drawn suflicient- 1y taut to prevent turning movement of the plug (sufliciently to break the plug seal) without breaking of the wire 25 and/or seal 26.

In Fig. 3 I show another form of plug assembly, in connection with which the ring II has utility. More particularly, the bushing 21 and ring 28 (of the same form as the ring 11) are assembled in the same manner above described in connection with the form of Fig. 2. The externally threaded plug 29 is provided with a head 29 which does not project out over the bushing bead 30, wherefore it does not lend itself to attachment to the ring 28 by passing a wire therethrough as in Fig. 2. In this form, the plug 29 may be screwed inwardly to such an extent that the top of its head is approximately at the height of the bead 30; and, in this case, I, preferably, bend the ring ears 3| into an upright condition (Fig 3) and pass a wire 32 through the openings in the oppositelypositioned ring ears and across the top of the plug 29. I then apply a sealdevice 33 to the free ends of the wire 32 in the same manner as described in connectionwith the seal of Fig. 2, and the wire 32 is drawn sufficiently taut that the plug 29 cannot be removed without breaking the wire seal.

In both of the foregoing forms, the ring I! (or 28) is held against rotation, eliminating the possibility of rotating the ring member with the plug for removal or loosening of the latter. This particular seal arrangement also tends to prevent loosening of the plug sufflciently for leakage due to temperature conditions, strains and stresses imposed on the container enclosure during transportation, handling, and storage. It will also be obvious from the foregoing that my invention provides a very simple and inexpensive, yet highly dependable, means for the application of tags to the closure structure as well as for sealing the container closure. In some cases, closure structure such as disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 573,675, may be employed. The ring I! may be equally well applied to that form of closure and well serve the convenience of the user after the original seal has been broken.

In other words, in the event that a seal cap is initially fixed over the closure ofthe form of Fig. 3, when that seal cap is removed, the user may readily seal the container again, using the original plug, in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Or, if he so desires, he may substitute a plug of the form shown in,..Fig. 2 and readily seal the same. In

' some cases a plug may be used which is similar to of my-invention,

that of Fig. 2, except that the head has a greater overhang and is provided with an opening extending axially therethrough near the outer edge of said head. It will be obvious that such a plug may be sealed in the manner taught in Fig. 2.

While I have referred to several applications it willbe understood that other arrangements and changes in detail parts may be 1. In structure of the class described, a wall having an opening therein, a flange projecting from said wall and surrounding said opening, a ring member having a body portion embracing the outer surface of said flange and angularly disposed and laterally extending rim portion having an attachment extension projecting therefrom, and means applied independently of said flange and located on the outer end of said flange for securing said ring member thereto against movement bodily in any direction.

2. In structure of the class described, means forming an opening in the wall of the container, said means including a flange projecting from the container wall and a bushing member supported by said flange and having one end beaded over the outer edge of said flange to secure the bushing member to said flange, and a ring member mounted upon the exterior part of said flange and fixedly secured in position by the beaded edge of said bushing end, a plug member insertable in said bushing, and means for interconnecting said plug and ring member.

3. In structure of the class described, means forming an opening in the wall of the container, said means including a flange projecting outwardly from the container wall and a bushing member supported by said flange and headed over the outer edge of the latter to fix said bushing and flange together, and a ring member having one part mounted upon said flange and fixed in place by the beaded portion of said bushing member and another part projected laterally from said flange and seated upon the container wall at the base of said flange, said latter mentioned part having an attachment extension.

4. In structure of the class described, a container wall having an opening therein, an annular flange surrounding said opening and projecting away from said container wall, a bushing mounted within said flange and having its outer end turned over and upon the outer end of said flange, and a ring member having an annular body portion fltted around said flange with its upper edge fixedly conflned between said flange and bushing by said turned-over end of said bushing, said ring member also having a laterally extending base portion seated upon the container wall around said flange and having one or more defined perforated extensions.

5. In structure of the class described, a wall having a circular opening therein, a flange projecting away from said wall a substantial distance and surrounding said opening, a relatively thin metallic ring member having a base portion of substantial width seated upon the container wall at the bottom of said flange and an upstanding body portion fitting exteriorly upon said flange, and a bushing member reinforcing said flange and engaged with said ring member securing said ring member upon said flange against displacement bymovemnt in any direction, said base portion having one or more extensions with an opening therein for the reception of a wire, cord or the like.

6. In structure of the class described, the combination with means, including an outwardly extending, cylindrical flange, forming an opening in the wall of the container, and a plug for closing said opening, said plug having ahead which does not project laterally beyond the edge of said opening; of a seal ring mounted exteriorly upon said flange, means separately applied to said flange and extending over the outer end of said flange into engagement with said seal ring for fixing the latter against movement relative to said flange, said ring having deformable extensions substantially diametrically opposed to' each other and having openings therein, and a seal wire adapted to be passed through said openings in opposed extensions and entirely across the head of said plug for reception of seal means seal-fastening its free ends.

'7. In structure of the class described, the combination with means, including an outwardly extending, cylindrical flange and an internally threaded bushing surrounded thereby, forming an opening in the wall of the container, and a plug adapted to be screwed into said bushing for closing said opening, said plug having an opening therein near the periphery of its head portion; of a seal ring mounted exteriorly upon said flange, said bushing being adapted to be turned over and upon the outer edge of said flange for fixing said ring against movement relative to said flange in any direction, said ring having one or more lateral and perforated extensions, one of which extensions is adapted to align with the opening in said plug head portion, and a seal wire adapted to be passed through the perforation in said ring' extension and through the opening in said plug head portion for reception of seal means for seal fastening of its free ends.

JOHN w. SHERA.

CERTIFICATE OF GORR-ECTION.

Patent No. l,997, 20'2. April), 1935.

JOHN w. SHERA. 7

ltishereby certifiedthat error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 9, claim 1, after "and" insert the word an; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the'same may conform tothe record at the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of June; A. D. 1935. Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents; 

